Laguna de Sontecomapan
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The Laguna Sontecomapan Valley is formed by an estuary lagoon and rivers located north
of Catemaco in the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas, in the coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico in south
central Veracruz, Mexico.
Bordered by the slopes of Volcano San Martin Tuxtla and the Sierra de Santa Marta,
numerous brooks and rivers empty into the estuary.
of Catemaco in the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas, in the coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico in south
central Veracruz, Mexico.
Bordered by the slopes of Volcano San Martin Tuxtla and the Sierra de Santa Marta,
numerous brooks and rivers empty into the estuary.
A deep channel at La Barra accesses the Gulf and
provides for the interchange of salt and fresh water. A low
chain of volcanic hills separates the watershed of Laguna
Catemaco from Laguna Sontecomapan. The lagoon is
generally shallow, it is only about 7 feet (2 meters) deep.
The surrounding wetlands, sand dunes, forests and
farmland contain one of the last well preserved growths of
mangrove in the coastal region of the Gulf of Mexico, and its
wetlands are an important refuge for migratory birds on the
north to south American migration routes.
It is also an important feeding and spawning ground for
many freshwater and estuarine fish as well as for
crustaceans, while the beaches and sand dunes are
nesting sites for many endangered marine turtles such as
Loggerheads, Hawksbills, Leatherbacks and Kemp´s Ridley.
Its flora harbors a large diversity of species including
several unique in the world, It supports 3 (red, black and
white) of the 4 species of mangroves in Mexico, many
species of orchids, and bushes and trees never seen north
of the Texan border.
ts flora harbors a large diversity of species including
several unique in the world, It supports 3 (red, black and
white) of the 4 species of mangroves in Mexico, many
species of orchids, and bushes and trees never seen north
of the Texan border.
Nationally protected or threatened fauna includes the
Mexican protected Black Hawks, Uniform Crakes,
Bare-throated Herons, Howler Monkeys and Neotropical
Otters. Also Moreletti's crocodiles, green iguanas, snapping,
mud and slider turtles, Blue and other crabs, several
endemic fishes, and snails galore.
As of 1998 the area has been included in the buffer zone of
the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve. In 2001, the University
of Veracruz obtained a preservation concession to 4 km2 of
the Laguna shores and in 2004, the international wetland
organization RAMSAR designated the Laguna
Sontecomapan area as an international conservation site.
Climate in the area is hot and humid averaging above 25
degrees C., and averaging rainfall between 2 and 4 meters
(7-14 feet) mostly within the June to January period. Strong
humid winds off the Gulf of Mexico frequently penetrate the
area.
Most of the lands surrounding the Laguna are communal,
cooperative or private property. The land uses include
extensive livestock raising, horticulture (maize, beans,
chilies, papaya), limited reforestation of Spanish Cedar and
Honduran Mahogany and lately Mangroves.
Tourism in the area is accommodated by a small basic hotel
in Sontecomapan, and several "ecological tourism"
enterprises in Jicacal, El Real, and La Barra. Activities
include beach combing, boat tours and kayaking, hiking,
swimming, birdwatching and seafood sampling.
In the 19th century, Sontecomapan served as a port for the
Tuxtlas tobacco industry. At one time steamships used to
anchor off its port of La Barra.
In the 1970's, the Sontecomapan lagoon was considered
one of the richest mangrove vegetation zones in Mexico.
Both its lagoon and offshore fishing produced record
catches. But not anymore.
Protection of the laguna environment is arriving a quarter
century late.
Although agriculturally rich, flush with fat cattle and a
functioning fishing, agriculture, aquaculture and tourism
industry, its population is poor and only consists of maybe
5000 people.
.
provides for the interchange of salt and fresh water. A low
chain of volcanic hills separates the watershed of Laguna
Catemaco from Laguna Sontecomapan. The lagoon is
generally shallow, it is only about 7 feet (2 meters) deep.
The surrounding wetlands, sand dunes, forests and
farmland contain one of the last well preserved growths of
mangrove in the coastal region of the Gulf of Mexico, and its
wetlands are an important refuge for migratory birds on the
north to south American migration routes.
It is also an important feeding and spawning ground for
many freshwater and estuarine fish as well as for
crustaceans, while the beaches and sand dunes are
nesting sites for many endangered marine turtles such as
Loggerheads, Hawksbills, Leatherbacks and Kemp´s Ridley.
Its flora harbors a large diversity of species including
several unique in the world, It supports 3 (red, black and
white) of the 4 species of mangroves in Mexico, many
species of orchids, and bushes and trees never seen north
of the Texan border.
ts flora harbors a large diversity of species including
several unique in the world, It supports 3 (red, black and
white) of the 4 species of mangroves in Mexico, many
species of orchids, and bushes and trees never seen north
of the Texan border.
Nationally protected or threatened fauna includes the
Mexican protected Black Hawks, Uniform Crakes,
Bare-throated Herons, Howler Monkeys and Neotropical
Otters. Also Moreletti's crocodiles, green iguanas, snapping,
mud and slider turtles, Blue and other crabs, several
endemic fishes, and snails galore.
As of 1998 the area has been included in the buffer zone of
the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve. In 2001, the University
of Veracruz obtained a preservation concession to 4 km2 of
the Laguna shores and in 2004, the international wetland
organization RAMSAR designated the Laguna
Sontecomapan area as an international conservation site.
Climate in the area is hot and humid averaging above 25
degrees C., and averaging rainfall between 2 and 4 meters
(7-14 feet) mostly within the June to January period. Strong
humid winds off the Gulf of Mexico frequently penetrate the
area.
Most of the lands surrounding the Laguna are communal,
cooperative or private property. The land uses include
extensive livestock raising, horticulture (maize, beans,
chilies, papaya), limited reforestation of Spanish Cedar and
Honduran Mahogany and lately Mangroves.
Tourism in the area is accommodated by a small basic hotel
in Sontecomapan, and several "ecological tourism"
enterprises in Jicacal, El Real, and La Barra. Activities
include beach combing, boat tours and kayaking, hiking,
swimming, birdwatching and seafood sampling.
In the 19th century, Sontecomapan served as a port for the
Tuxtlas tobacco industry. At one time steamships used to
anchor off its port of La Barra.
In the 1970's, the Sontecomapan lagoon was considered
one of the richest mangrove vegetation zones in Mexico.
Both its lagoon and offshore fishing produced record
catches. But not anymore.
Protection of the laguna environment is arriving a quarter
century late.
Although agriculturally rich, flush with fat cattle and a
functioning fishing, agriculture, aquaculture and tourism
industry, its population is poor and only consists of maybe
5000 people.
.
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